Inflatable tent structure



Sept. 25, 1962 E. c. FlNK INFLATABLE TENT STRUCTURE Filed July 16, 1959 INVENTOR. 4 Mn 6? fi/vx.

3,0553% Patented Sept. 25, 1962 3,055,379 INFLATABLE TENT STRUCTURE Eli ah C. Fink, 719 W. Nelson St., Marion, Ind. Filed July 16, 1959, Ser. No. 827,603 1 Claim. (Q1. 135-1) This invention relates generally to portable structures and in particular to an inflatable tent structure.

In the recent past tent structures, referred to as air structures, have come into use 'as portable temporary warehouse enclosures at construction sites. These structures have been further utilized as exhibition booths and the like. In general, such structures are formed by an air impervious material, such as vinyl coated nylon fabric or the like, and are maintained erect, not by an internal supporting structure, but by inflating them with air and maintaining the air pressure within the structure above atmospheric pressure. These air structures provide a maximum of usable interior space because of the absence of interior poles or other supporting structure. They have the disadvantage of requiring a power operated air compressor to continuously deliver air under presume to the inside of the structure. Further, the structure doors or flaps can be left open only for relatively short periods or the structure will slowly settle due to loss of pressure in its interior.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an inflatable tent structure which requires no interior supporting structure and is maintained erect without requiring that the air pressure in the tent interior be above atmospheric pressure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable tent structure having two-ply side walls formed of rubber, vinyl-coated fabric or the like, the outer covering and inner liner being spaced apart by spacer members to provide an air chamber.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a structure of the type referred to which, since the pressure of the interior of the structure need not be maintained above atmospheric, can be provided with one or more vents to permit the exit of stove fumes or the like from the structure interior.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a structure of the type referred to which can be rigidly and conveniently anchored to the ground or other supporting surface.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claim:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tent structure embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

:FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of the central panel structure.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view showing the valve for inflating the tent structure.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an inflatable tent structure having an arcuate central panel having end walls 11 and 12 depending therefrom. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the central panel is composed of an outer cover 13 and an inner liner 14. The cover and liner are maintained in spaced relation by means of spacer elements or strips 16 which at their ends 17 are cemented or vulcanized to the adjacent inner faces of the cover and liner.

The single ply end walls 11 and 12, and the cover and liner 13 and 14, respectively, may be formed of an air impervious material, such as rubber, vinyl coated fabric or the like. The spacer elements 16 are preferably formed of serni-rigid rubber. The end walls 11 and 12 are attached by any suitable means, such as cementing, to the margins of the central panel 10, as indicated at 11a and 12a. The front end wall 11 may be provided with an access Opening 18 which can be closed by appropriately formed flaps 19 secured to the end wall.

At its apex the central panel 10 is provided with a chimney or stack fitting 211 which is sealed within an aperture in the cover 13. The lower end of the fitting extends through a registering aperture in the liner 14 and is secured thereto, by cementing or similar means, by utilizing the outwardly flanged lower margin 22 of the fitting. The fitting 21 acts as a vent to permit the exhaust of stove fumes or the like from the interior of the structure.

As may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the adjacent marginal edges of the cover and liner are sealed by a base member 23 whose margins 23a extend beyond the cover and liner. The base member is sealed by any suitable means to the cover and liner, to thereby provide a closed air chamber. A conventional check valve, indicated generally at 24 and shown in detail in FIG. 4, permits inflation of the structure by application of a source of compressed air to the valve 24.

The valve 24 is conventional and includes a support section 26 of rubber, a sleeve 27, a valve member 28, a return spring 29' and a valve opening pin 31. A cap 32 may be utilized to close the upper end of the valve assembly.

The marginal areas 23a of the base member 23 are apertured at spaced points and provided with metal grommets 33. As indicated in FIG. 2, the grommet apertures accommodate anchoring means which may take the form of spikes or stakes 34 which are driven into the ground to anchor the structure in place.

When the structure is inflated, it will be evident that the interior thereof is not obstructed by any poles or other supporting structure. Further, since the interior of the structure does not require that the pressure therein be maintained above atmospheric, the access opening to the structure may be maintained open without collapsing the structure. The arrangement further permits use of the vent provided by fitting 21. When the structure is deflated, it will be evident that the spacer elements 16 may change their angular relation with the cover 13 and liner 14, whereby the central panel may be folded or collapsed into a relatively small volume for transport.

While the invention has been disclosed and described in some detail in the drawings and foregoing description, they are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, as modifications may readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art and within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claim.

The invention claimed is:

An inflatable tent structure comprising an arcuate central panel having end walls depending from each end thereof, said central panel comprising an outer covering and an inner liner formed of an air impervious, flexible material, and each of said end walls consisting of a single ply of air impervious flexible material sealed to said outer covering and to said inner liner, one of said end walls having an access opening therein and having flaps secured thereto to cover said opening, said central panel having a stack fitting extending therethrough, said stack fitting being sealed to said outer covering and to said inner liner, a plurality of semi rigid spacers secured to the adjacent faces of said covering and liner and maintaining them in spaced relation, a relatively rigid base member sealed to each pair of adjacent marginal edges of said covering and liner, said outer covering and said inner liner and said stack fitting and said base members providing an air tight space between said covering and said liner, said rigid base members having marginal areas extending beyond the covering and liner adapted to receive anchoring stakes, and a check valve communicating with the space between the covering and liner whereby air may be admitted under pressure to said space to inflate the central panel and thereby erect said structure.

468,455 Giessmann Feb. 9, 1892 Hunter Sept. 29, 1942 Klirnashesky May 28, 1946 Barker Ian. 14, 1958 Bary June 3, 1958 Bird Aug. 26, 1958 Richardson et a1 Apr. 26, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS France July 4, 1951 

